Sanitary couch



Aug. 8, 1933. ca. RAPPRICH SANITARY COUCH Filed Jan. 20, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Gus-nave RrPK/cfi BY ATTORNEY 1933- G. RAPPRICH 1,921,134

SANITARY COUCH Filed Jan. 20, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 1 9- 7 INVENTOR 6 us TAYE WA PPR/CH ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 8, 1933 entree s'rrss Par at r res Application January 20,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a sanitary couch, and more particularly to a couch which may be placed, desired, in a bath tub, and its principal object is to provide a frame structure which may be adjustable to a variety of positions.

A further object is a locking construction whereby the head, or the foot elements may; by a single grip of the hand, be released and folded over.

Another feature is a leg structure which pos sesses both stability and some degree of springiness or elasticity.

The whole couch may be folded into such compact form as to permit of carrying in a suitable case.

The foregoing together with other objects and features of the device will be fully described in the following specification and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the couch.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on the line 22 f Figure 1.

Fig. 3 shows a cross section on the line 33 of Figure 2.

4 shows an end-rest folded over and having on its back a modified form of arc supporting bar.

Fig. 5 shows an enlarged cross section positioned within a bath tub which is indicated in dot and dash lines.

Fig. 6 shows an enlarged side view of one end of a side bar.

Fig. 7 shows, still further enlarged, a fragmentary view within the limits of the line 7-7 of 35 Figure 5.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section on the line -38 of Figure 5. The cross belt is not shown in this view.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings; the couch is shown in a plan view; it has side bars 10 which are secured to the cross bars 12 by the nuts 13. The inclinable head 14 and the foot element 15 are secured to the cross bars 12 by welding or any suitable process. Canvas, or other cross belts 16 are mounted on the main frame and on the head and foot elements as shown.

In Figure 2 a vertical section is shown on the r line 2-2 of Figure 1 and in this View the arc bars 1'? are clearly shown. These are pivotally attached to the lugs 45 of the head and foot elements 14 and 15 respectively and pass downward and through the slots 19 in the leg members, where inverted U members 44 are adapted to interlock in the said slots.

1932. Serial Ne. 587,658

A modified form of are bar may be seen in Figure 4 which may be laid sidewise as shown.

The locking devices may best be described by reference to Figure 5. In this view the dot and dash lines simply indicate the outlines of a bath tub. I

The couch details are as follows: The cross rod 12 has a threaded rod or axial member 18 passing through it and projecting slightly at the ends.

On reference to Fig. 7 it will be seen that the rod 12 is chambered as at 20 to contain the spring which presses against the V element 22. The stud washer 23 has plugs 2a which engage holes 25 in the side bars 10; the lock nuts 13 bear against the said side bars. The spreader pawls as that shown here at 27 normally rest in the space back of the V element. These pawls are lifted by a pull on the links 28 through the action of the levers 29 which are pivoted at 30; to supporting elements 41 which are mounted on the bars 12. The pawls 27 are pivotally supported at 49 on lugs 51 which are attached to the bars 12.

Referring now to Figure 5; reciprocating bar 32 is secured to the spring 33 and passes downward and has a foot 34 which engages the slots 35 of the levers 29. A spring 36 bears against the levers 29 at the bottom end against a lug on the cross member 37 at the top. The are bars 1'7 are pivotally attached to lugs 45 on cross members 37.

The spring plate 33 is supported on ends which are slotted as seen at 38, and when it is desired to fold the couch, this plate "3 is grasped in one hand and pressed upward; this lifts the bar 32 and acts on the levers 29; this in turn pulls over the links 23 and lifts the pawls 27 so that the V elements may easily permit of the folding downward of the head and foot elements, and the closing up of the leg members 40: These leg members ii are preferably in the form of an X and are provided with a slot member 19 at the center. If desired; they may be shorter in proportion. These X formed legs 40 which are seen best in Figure 5, are attached to the V elements 22 and when the spreaders 2'7 are lifted and the leg members folded up, they spring slightly to the center of the frame as they clear the projecting V members of the stud washers 23 which engage the flat ends of the side bars 10. The springs 21 normally serve to keep the V elements 22 pressed against the stud washers 23.

For a full comprehension of the working principle of this frame construction, it may be said briefly that, the head frame I4 is Welded or permanently affixed to the cross bar 12 and may be considered as integral therewith. The threaded rod 18 passes through the cross bar 12 which is rotatable thereon. The side bars 10 are mounted on the extremities of the rod 18 and are held by the nuts 13. The X legs 40 are attached to V elements 22 which are loosely mounted on the rod 18. The V elements are locked by stud washers 23 intervening between them and the ends of the side bars 10. The V elements areslidable when the pawls 27 are lifted up, and the X legs spring sufiiciently to permit of the rotation of the V elements on the rod 18. Thus, the head frame may, when the arc bar is released, rotate on the rod 18, and the V elements with the legs attached may also rotate on the rod 18 when the pawls are lifted; and the head frame and the legs are folded over to positions relatively parallel to the side bars. The construction and action of the foot frame and legs is similar to that above described.

While the device is shown in its preferred form; it is not limited narrowly thereto, but is broadly claimed within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A couch of the character described, in which frames at the head and foot thereof are mounted on cross rods of tubular form, axial members passing through and projecting from the said cross rods, side frame members one at each side rigidly attached to the respective projecting ends of the axial members and forming with the axial members a main frame structure, and revolvable elements mounted on the said axial members, leg frames attached to the said revolvable elements, and means to lock the said leg frames and head and foot frames in specific angular relation to the main frame structure of the said couch.

2. In a folding couch, a horizontal frame, cross rods at the head and foot ends thereof, end frames having tubular cross members revolvably mounted on the cross rods, binding nuts on theends of the said rods, side bars mounted on the said cross rods and secured by the said nuts, stud washers bearing against the ends of the said bars, and the said stud washers shaped to receive V elements which are revolvable on the said rods and bear against the said stud washers, plugs on the stud washers engaging holes in the side bars, springs expanded against the said V elements and normally holding them in engagement with the stud washers, spreader members insertable between the said V elements and the cross'members of the end frames and connected to lifting levers which are pivotally mounted on the tubular cross members and are held in tension by reciprocating rods which engage the said levers and are liftable by means of a spring plate to release the said spreader members, and are bars pivotally attached to the said end frames and attachable to foldable leg members which are attached to the said V elements.

GUSTAVE RAPPRICH. 

